McDonald was charged with attempted murder, reckless endangerment of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, assault and battery on a family member, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and strangulation. The DCF was called in, as well.

One man, who didn't want to be identified, told necn he was painting nearby when he heard the child crying.

"It sounded like he was screaming but crying sometimes," the man said. "I don't know if he was in pain."

"It made me scared and made me want to keep my kids in the house," said Heather Chesna, a mother who lives in the complex. "Because if you could do this to your own family, then you could do it to pretty much anybody."